Parents advised to 'keep an eye on' children after Taunton girl's suicide

Thursday

Jul 24, 2014 at 6:00 AM

A local expert is warning parents to “keep an eye on” children who might be vulnerable in the wake of a Taunton girl's suicide last week.

Staff Reporter

TAUNTON – A local expert is warning parents to “keep an eye on” children who might be vulnerable in the wake of a Taunton girl’s suicide last week.

“What can happen is kids are impressionable and there may be some very vulnerable kids out there thinking, ‘Oh, wow, look at how much attention she’s getting,’” said Annemarie Matulis, director of the Bristol County Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention. “Sometimes there’s a disconnect with younger kids in particular.”

Matulis, whose group covers the Taunton area, is urging parents and guardians to be vigilant with children, particularly those who are mourning the loss of 14-year-old Kacie Palm, who died last Thursday. Palm’s funeral was planned in Taunton for Thursday.

Matulis said a small percentage of children might glamorize Kacie’s death, and that some youths trying to make sense of what happened may be reluctant to seek help.

“Just sit down and honestly talk. I think the strongest thing is to keep an eye on your kids,” Matulis said. “Maybe they’re sad and maybe they need to talk to somebody because there is that stigma for getting help.”

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24, resulting in approximately 4,600 deaths nationwide each year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Massachusetts, a total of 78 youth between the ages of 5 to 24 committed suicide in 2011, the last year for which state figures were available. That is down from 82 suicides among Massachusetts youth between the ages of 5 to 24 in 2010, but up from 52 suicides in that age group in 2009.

Several more youths attempt suicide each year, and survive. About 157,000 youths between the ages of 10 and 24 receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries each year at hospital emergency rooms nationwide, according to the CDC.

A 2011 state survey of Massachusetts youth in public high schools found that 13 percent of students seriously considered suicide during the past year, 12 percent made a suicide plan, and 7 percent made an attempt.

Risk factors for youth suicide include a history of previous suicide attempts, family history of suicide, depression or mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, a stressful life event or loss, and exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, according to the CDC.

Taunton police are investigating after Kacie ended her life last Thursday. Several recent posts on Facebook and Twitter indicated that Kacie may have been a victim of cyber-bullying.

Police have spoken with school officials as part of the investigation, Taunton Police Chief Ed Walsh said this week.

Taunton Schools Superintendent Julie Hackett said school officials are working with police and “we continue to monitor social media accounts.”

“We are following up directly with children and families who may be in need to ensure the safety of our students,” Hackett said. “We continue to provide outreach and ongoing support to help our students, staff, and families.”

The school district is offering a grief counseling “drop in” at the Taunton High School library from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Kacie died on Thursday, amid news reports across the country of online “Purges” on Facebook and Twitter – where forms of online abuse are encouraged and have led to nude photos of women, including underage women, being posted on social media.

Her parents, Steve and Kerry Palm, are searching for answers after Kacie’s death.

“There’s so many questions and so much hearsay,” her father, Steve Palm, 45, said Tuesday. “We don’t know what’s true and what’s not true.”

The Palms, who saw no warning signs in their daughter, said they are speaking publicly about their daughter’s suicide with the hope that it will help save another young life.

For Kacie’s family and area youth who knew her, having the support of others is vital, said Anne DiNoto, organizer of the International Survivors of Suicide Day in Boston, which will be held this year on Nov. 22.

“What’s helpful is to be able to say to someone that they really care about them, that they believe in them, that they know they are going to get through this,” DiNoto said, “and they are going to be with them to get through this.”

Maria Papadopoulos may be reached at mpapa@enterprisenews.com or follow on Twitter @MariaP_ENT.